The county begin a crucial five days of cricket knowing that a win will secure their T20 quarter-final place.

They then travel to Scarborough to tackle Middlesex in the LV= County Championship on Saturday looking to overhaul a 16-point gap to leaders Nottinghamshire.

Yorkshire captain Gale said: "Over the last two or three weeks, you've heard it said more and more 'it's a big week, it's a big week'.

"It's got to that stage of the season where every week is exactly that. Every game's pivotal.

"I just keep hammering home with the lads that it's about the processes. We're not getting wrapped up with looking ahead.

"It's about doing the things that have made us successful in the formats we've played so far.

"We know we've got enough form, ability and confidence to be successful. But if we get carried away and don't respect it, we know professional sport can bite you."

It has been a funny old week for Gale, both on and off the field.

He saw his side narrowly miss out on win over Durham last Thursday, before being dropped for the T20 win against the same team 24 hours later – and then responding well with 34 in the win over Derbyshire on Sunday from the middle order.

All this was happening while wife Kate was due to give birth to their second child.

"I got left out Friday and it was pretty difficult to take, especially with everything that was going on at home," said Gale.

"In the morning, my missus was having contractions and I didn't know whether I was going to travel.

"I made a decision to travel and by 4pm, had the contractions got worse, I would have gone home.

"I was disappointed not to play – but to bounce back under a little bit of pressure against Derby was extremely satisfying."

* Andrew Gale is a director of Pro Coach Cricket Academy, who are running a series of three-day summer camps next month – www.procricketcoachingacademy.com